Small grains:

Delaware - Barley production is estimated at 1.05 million bushels, down 17% from the 2020 total

of 1.26 million bushels. Average yield per acre, at 75.0 bushels, is down 9.0 bushels from the previous year.  Harvested area, at 14 thousand acres, is down 7% from 2020. Winter wheat production for 2021 totaled 2.45 million bushels, down 39% from the 2020 total of 4.02 million bushels. Average yield, at 70.0 bushels per acre, is down 3.0 bushels from 2020. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 35 thousand acres, down 36% from the previous year. 

Maryland - Barley production is estimated at 1.35 million bushels, down 12% from the 2020 total of 1.53 million bushels. Average yield per acre, at 75.0 bushels, is up 2.0 bushels from the previous year. Harvested area, at 18 thousand acres, is down 14% from 2020. Winter wheat production for 2021 totaled 12.6 million bushels, up 15% from the 2020 total of 11.0 million bushels. Average yield, at 79.0 bushels per acre, is up 6.0 bushels from 2020. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 160 thousand acres, up 7% from the previous year.

Oct. 1 crop forecasts:

Delaware - Corn production is forecast at 28.9 million bushels, up 4% from the September forecast and up 3% from last year. Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, yields are expected to average 170.0 bushels per acre, up 7 bushels from the September forecast and up 10 bushels from 2020.  Area harvested for grain is forecast at 170 thousand acres, unchanged from the September forecast but down 3% from 2020.  Soybean production is forecast at 7.50 million bushels, unchanged from September but up 3% from last year. Based on Oct. 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 49.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from both last month and last year.  Area for harvest is forecast at 153 thousand acres, unchanged from September but up 3% from 2020.

Maryland - Corn production is forecast at 64.7 million bushels, up 2% from September but down 3% from last year. Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, yields are expected to average 166.0 bushels per acre, up 4 bushels from the September forecast and up 11 bushels from 2020. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 390 thousand acres, the same as the September forecast but down 9% from 2020.  Soybean production is forecast at 24.5 million bushels, unchanged from September but up 12% from last year. Based on Oct. 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 51.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month but up 4 bushels from last year.  Area for harvest is forecast at 480 thousand acres, unchanged from September but up 3% from the previous year.

Editor’s note: This information is a portion of a monthly column from the Northeastern Regional Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Visit www.nass.usda.gov for more information.